Notebook or Desktop Computer -- Which Should You Choose?

On TV and in the movies, we see a lot of portable computers being used in homes and offices.

Does that mean that's the trend? Is that what you should get?

Portable computers cost more, so unless you really have the need for one, you get a lot more computer for your money with a regular desktop PC. The main thing is portability. If you need a portable computer, get a laptop. ("Laptop," "portable," and "notebook" all refer to the same thing, by the way). Otherwise, a desktop computer is a better buy, and better ergonomically.
The Price DifferenceYou might wonder why laptops cost more than desktop computers with comparable features and power. That is largely because it is more expensive to manufacture laptops and their parts. For portable computer components, factors such as compactness, the amount of heat they generate, their weight, and power consumption are more important than they are for desktops. Those factors add to their manufacturing costs.

Space RequirementsWhile laptops are certainly compact, a desktop computer with a flat panel monitor can take up almost as little space. While called a "desktop" computer, the computer itself is most often kept on the floor. That leaves just the monitor, keyboard and mouse on the desk, which is really very similar in footprint to a notebook computer.

A great way to further reduce the space taken up on the desktop computer is get a keyboard drawer to hold the keyboard and mouse. That way, they slide out of the way under the top of the desk when they aren't needed.

Be Mindful of ErgonomicsErgonomics is the science of designing and arranging things so that people can interact with them more comfortably and safely. The basic ergonomic principals for computer use tell us that, 1) the keyboard should be as close to your lap level as possible (assuming you touch-type), 2) the monitor should be about arm's length in front of you, and 3) the top of the monitor should be at about your eye level. Try achieving that with a laptop computer! Two words: im-possible.

It is obvious then, that a desktop computer is much better ergonomically than a laptop is. For prolonged use, especially, you're much better off with a desktop computer.

And Don't Forget UsabilityAnother aspect of ergonomics is usability. Because of size constraints, laptops also are lower on the usability scale than desktop PCs are. For one thing, laptop keyboards lack the separate groupings of the different sets of keys with space between them. For another, there are fewer keys on a laptop's keyboard, so some of them have to perform double duty. On a standard keyboard, you don't have to deal with that.

Screen ResolutionComputer monitors -- the bulky ones, anyway -- can be set at different resolutions. In other words, you can change the fineness of the image on the screen. The range is typically 640x480 -- that is 640 pixel across and 480 pixels up and down -- to 800x600, 1024x768, or even higher. At 640x480, the icons and such appear quite large; at 1024x768, they are substantially smaller. The most common resolutions today for desktop computers are 800x600 and 1024x768.

Something They Don't Tell YouLaptop displays, on the other hand, have a fixed, or native, resolution. You can change the setting, but then the images and text don't look good. While people tend to think that bigger numbers are better, a higher screen resolution may not work as well for you. It may make everything too small to see comfortably.

Remember, the laptop's screen is smaller that a desktop's. While a typical desktop computer screen is 17" or so a laptop's is usually in the range of 12" to 15." That is a big difference. Make sure you can see everything clearly before choosing a high-resolution laptop.

Reid Neubert is the creator of ConsumerTechTips.com, the site that provides simple, useful information about consumer electronics for shoppers, plus money-saving links to online bargains from leading retailers. For more information or to contact Reid, visit http://www.consumertechtips.com.

Why Laptops are Different than Desktops

Laptops are different from desktops in the these ways;

1. Power supply: As desktops can be plugged in an outlet in the wall (AC Power) so can laptops with an AC adapter. But how a laptop is different from a desktop is that it is portable because batteries can also power laptops. The batteries are rechargeable; lithium, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride.

2. Display: Also like desktops, laptops have some type of LCD display screen. Modern Laptops have 800 x 600 pixel resolution. This gives it a very clear screen and anything less should be avoided.

3. Input Devices: On a desktop computer you usually use a mouse and keyboard to enter data and navigate. With laptops keyboards are built in but since they are portable so they don't have a mouse. Instead they have one of three input devices in place of the mouse. A trackball, rotating the ball allows you to move the cursor. A trackpoint allows you to push your finger over the point to move the cursor. Lastly, a laptop may have a touchpad that you move your finger across to move the cursor.

4. Docking Connections: Many laptops come with a docking connection to make it more comfortable to use at a desk. You just plug your laptop in and use it as a desktop. The docking station comes with many peripheral devices: full size computer monitor, full size keyboard and mouse, disk drives and printer.

Buying a Laptop That You Can Use As A Personal Assistant

Don’t be surprised but buying a laptop can be even harder than buying a desktop computer. In fact, buying a computer is very straightforward. Laptops, however, are very personal stuff because it’s something that you will carry around with you and sometimes act as more than just a computer for you to work on. They become a companion! That’s why finding and selecting the right laptop can be very tricky.

Hard core computer gamers or people who will use their laptops for designing or video production may need more help than just reading about buying laptops. For conventional laptop users, here’s something for you to digest.

The price for laptops varies drastically from brand to brand. Some laptops can cost $500 while some laptops can cost you $6,000. Some entry-level (meaning basic laptops) can be bought for between $600 and $900. If you grab a laptop off eBay or other rebate or dropshipping websites, you might get a mid-range laptop for far less than that.

Even for basic laptop users, the description and specifications for the laptop is very, very important. If you’re not sure, check around and ask your friends for advice on how to buy a good laptop for the lowest price possible. You should be getting a laptop that comes with AT LEAST 512 megabytes of memory. The size of the memory ensures that your laptop can run multiple programs smoothly. As for hard drive, invest in as big a hard drive for your laptop as you can afford. Another thing that you may have to look out before you invest in the laptop is to find out how many USB ports that the laptop has. Most laptops come with at least 2 USB ports, the more the better. If you use a camera or thumb drive (disk key), this is where you insert the cable – the USB ports. You don’t want to have to remove the USB cable for your printer and mouse every time you try to save pictures from your camera to your laptop! Some laptops come with slots for camera memory cards, for instance, your compact flash cards.

If you’re keen on getting a Windows based laptop, the security of your laptop should be at the top of your priority lists. Windows SP2 XP should be ideal because it comes with antispam, antispyware, antipopups and antivirus programs. Some laptop retailers may offer you cheap or free programs that you can install into the laptop as a second layer protection to your laptop.
Other factors to take into account when shopping for laptops are the screen size, the life of the battery, the processor of the laptop, screen and keyboard, wi-fi networking, size and weight of the laptop.

How to Choose The Right Laptop Accessories?

The notebook computer is coming of age. For the first time in history, notebooks or laptops are out-selling their bigger cousins, desktop computers.

The rise in popularity of the notebook computer can be contributed to many factors: drop in prices, stiff competition, aggressive marketing, but perhaps the biggest factor -- increased performance.

With each new generation of notebooks, we are seeing some novel breakthroughs: dual core notebooks, PCI Express, Sonoma Chipset, increased storage, increased RAM, faster CPUs, better battery life and better wireless access including a Cellular Modem Connection. All these new innovations are making for a more powerful computer embodied in a sleeker smaller package that consumers want.

However, as most notebook enthusiasts know, to get full enjoyment from your laptop or notebook computer you must have certain essential accessories. These laptop accessories will greatly enhance your notebook experience and make for a much more satisfying all-around 'complete laptop'.

Here's a wish list of laptop accessories you may want to consider purchasing:

1. Carrying Bag or Backpack This is essential if you will be doing a lot of traveling. You might even want to consider a wheeled bag for those heavier laptops. Try to purchase a laptop carrying bag that has plenty of compartments for all those notebook peripherals. Always check to see if your laptop or notebook will fit!

2. Extra Battery Since most batteries last less than 5 hours you will need an extra battery or two. You should also check out bringing along an external battery for your laptop.

3. Port Replicator This is one essential you should consider buying for your laptop or notebook computer. It's a real hassle dealing with all those wires and connections on your laptop, that's where your port replicator or docking station solves your problem. Plug all your peripherals into the docking station or port replicator -- connect and disconnect your laptop with ease without having to deal with all those wires and connections. A must have!

4. Auto and Airplane ac adapter Another essential laptop accessory if you do a lot traveling, battery life on most notebooks is not great so having a handy source of ac power from your auto or from an airplane is a 'no-brainer'!

5. USB Hub Some older model notebooks come with only one or two USB ports; if you need more -- try a handy USB hub. It will give you more options.

6. Wireless Card Most laptops and notebooks now come with a wireless card. Many top brands have 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or all three! If your notebook doesn't have a wireless card, you can get a rather inexpensive 802.11b Linksys PC Card adapter for under $50.
You may also want to check out the new Sony VAIO VGN-T350P -- it has the world's first 'Cellular Modem Built In'-- access the Internet thru your cell phone. It has an Integrated EDGE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for the ultimate in wireless networking.
EDGE stands for 'Enhanced Data for Global Evolution' thru the Cingular Wireless national network.

7. Optional External Hard Drive Most notebooks or laptops now come with a 40 to 100 gig hard drives, but still if you download and save a lot of movies or songs you will take up that storage space quicker than you ever thought possible. If you need an extra hard drive for storage or back-up, try an external hard drive.

8. Optional External DVD Burner Many laptops now come with a built in DVD drive but in case you need this extra for or DVD burning (movies, songs, videos, etc.) try an external DVD burner for your notebook. For maximum compatibility, try to get one that supports both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW formats.

9. Optional Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Might sound strange suggesting this option since most laptops already come with a keyboard! But depending on your notebook make and model, the keyboards on most notebooks are not the greatest to type with. It all has to do with the wrong angles and the shape of the laptop, so if you want a wireless desktop style keyboard and mouse, it is relatively cheap to buy.

10. Insurance! If you do a lot of traveling, you may want to invest in some laptop insurance. Laptop theft is still a big problem and it's better to be safe than sorry.
Acquiring any of these laptop accessories will greatly improve your notebook computer, making for a hassle-free computing experience that you will appreciate and enjoy much more. So don't skimp, instead, bring your laptop enjoyment up to its highest level by purchasing some of these much needed laptop accessories.

You will thank yourself later!
For a list of the top rated Notebook and Laptop Accessories Click Here:
Notebook accessories Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins. Notebook Buyer's GuideThis article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

How to Buy a Laptop / Notebook Computer

You want to buy a laptop do you? And looking at the vast choice available you are confused.....not to worry....heres some advice.

Before I go into details, a quick recap of processors is essential. Be aware that it is the processor (cpu) that governs the price of the laptop (along with the screen size). The two major companies manufacturing CPUs are Intel and AMD (there’s Apple too but lets stick to mainstream laptops). Intel makes the famous line of Pentium processors (’’Intel inside’’ ting tong ting tong!). For laptops you have three main cpus available - Mobile Pentium 4 (basically a desktop P4 processor), Pentium M (low voltage cpus which enhance battery life and are specially built for laptops) and the Mobile Celeron processor (poor man’s P4 cpu). Wait a minute, you say, you didnt mention the Centrino processor. That’s because Centrino is not a processor - it’s a technology. Centrino is a combination of 3 things - Pentium M cpu + 855 chipset + Wireless Pro (802.11b). The other company is AMD - they make really good cpus that rival Intel’s cpus. Traditionally AMD cpus have had heat generation problems but lately there aren’t many complaints. I would advice you to stick to Intel processors which have good re-sale value.
The next Q is....what will you use the laptop for? Are you going to use it for simple stuff - spreadsheets/word processing / internet browsing? Then go in for a Celeron CPU. If you are going to do more serious computing, intend travelling frequently and want to run the laptop on its battery, go in for a Pentium M laptop. If you need wireless access go in for a Centrino laptop or a Pentium M laptop (u can add wireless technology using a pcmcia card). If you aren’t going to move the laptop around much or you want a laptop for games, get a Mobile P4 laptop. But be aware that a Mobile P4 laptop is a desktop replacement - it will be heavy and will run hot.
Now that you have the CPU decided, think about the size of the screen. 15’’ is today’s ’’sweet spot’’. But you do get smaller or bigger screens. Choose the size that fits your budget. 14’’ or less is a bit too small these days unless of course you want a ultra portable (read expensive) laptop. For gamers, the bigger the screen the more fun they will have. Bigger screens are also good for spreadsheet warriors and DTP professionals.

The next item on your list is RAM (temporary memory). Most laptops come with Windows XP which needs at least 256 mb ram to run happily. I urge you to upgrade to 512 ram for best results. The more RAM you have, the better your laptop will behave. It is said that increasing your RAM is the best and cheapest way of improving performance of any computer (i.e. without changing the motherboard/cpu).

Another thing to look at is the graphics memory. You can either choose dedicated video memory or shared architecture. Dedicated memory means that your video card has its own memory and does not have to ’’beg’’ for memory from the system memory (RAM). A rule of the thumb - dedicated memory = fast performance. Gamers and DTP guys must insist on dedicated memory. Good graphic chips are ATI Mobility Radeon or Nvidia GeForce. The more video memory you have, the better it is. Try to get a laptop with at least 32 mb video memory. Most laptops use shared architecture these days which is a cost cutting measure (an example of shared architecture is Intel’s extreme graphics). If you are not going to play serious 3D games or run heavy duty graphic programmes, shared architecture will be just fine. But make sure that you have enough system RAM (read 512) because the video memory is going to steal part of your RAM.

The hard drive capacity will be in the region of 30 gb and above. Get the maximum bang for your buck - don’t fall into the ’’I’ll never need that much capacity’’ rut. You will need all the hard drive space you are given so get the biggest capacity you can afford. For normal laptop users 40 gb is sufficient. You can easily increase hard drive space by buying an external USB 2.0 hard drive.

Battery life is very important for road warriors. Expect 3-5 hours battery life from most laptops. Mobile P4 laptop batteries will last much less. Always go in for a lithium ion battery as against a nickel hydride one.

Most laptops offer optical drives - the best value for money today is DVD-ROM + CD-RW drive. This means that you can read DVDs and read/write CDs. If you have lots of money to spend, get a laptop with a rewritable DVD drive.

Sound quality on laptops is just about acceptable for movies/songs/games – you cant go wrong with Harmon Kardon / Altec Lansing speakers.
One important factor to consider is weight. You don’t want a dislocated shoulder do you? So ....the lighter the laptop, the better it is for your health! The catch is that the lighter the laptop, the more expensive it is going to be. Don’t forget the AC adapter - some laptops have huge adapters which weigh a ton!

Don’t ignore a floppy drive - most laptops don’t have floppy drives any more. But don’t worry - USB external floppy drives are cheap. Ask the salesman to give you one for free; he will oblige you if he wants to make the sale. While you are at it, ask him for a free laptop bag as well.
Get a laptop with lots of USB ports which will come in handy and will improve the versatility of your laptop. Make sure that the USB ports are USB 2 (technology which is much faster than the old USB 1.0). An external USB mouse is a must as the inbuilt pointing devices are really painful to use.

All laptops come with built in modems and usually have LAN connectivity. Some laptops offer card slots where you can read/write to memory cards (as used in cameras).
Most laptop companies offer minimum software - Windows XP and basic stuff. They won’t even give you Office software. You will have to add more software yourself. To keep prices down, some companies offer Linux operating systems - unless you are seriously strapped for cash, I would advice you to stick to windows. As soon as you get your new laptop, make copies of the recovery CDs and store the original CDs safely. Carry the copies with you when travelling extensively.

Now, armed with the above knowledge dive into the market and choose the best laptop you can afford. Compaq and Toshiba make excellent laptops so check them out first. Compaq is generally cheaper than Toshiba. I used a Compaq laptop initially but later on moved to Toshiba as I found their laptops better. This is a personal choice so don’t read too much into it. Compaq and Toshiba are well established in most countries so repairs are not a problem. Find out where the nearest repair centre is and keep that information handy.

A laptop is usually a long term buy - forget about upgrading laptops. So choose carefully. Check the warranty - National and International. Remember that some companies will not honour your International warranty and will tell you to take the laptop back to the country where you bought it! Make sure you clarify this point before you buy the laptop.
Take good care of your laptop. Invest in a surge protector. Don’t move the laptop when it is switched on. And remember the golden rule - NEVER drink tea/coffee while working on a laptop!

I am a Merchant Navy officer living in Mumbai. When I am not sailing the high seas, I enjoy surfing the net, playing computer games, swimming, listening to music and reading books. Over the years I have picked up lots of information about computers that would be useful to non-technical people. I would love to share this information with other people and assist them in any way I can.

Listing of discount laptop computer dealers

Looking for discount laptops for sale? If yes, let me first congratulate you because this is a very smart move on your behalf. Up until now, I still have not figured out why most shoppers go out searching for the most expensive mobile computers thinking that the most expensive they are the better their quality. Sad but true!

Many top quality discount laptops deals are out there to anyone that want a very good new, used or refurbished laptop computer without spending a fortune. This is one thing that gets me so excited about the Internet because it makes discount laptop shopping much easier than in the phyisical world where you'd have to drive up and down all over the city you live in in the hope that you would find the absolute best deals.

Warning! There are many discount laptops out there. Most are legit and sell really good computers but some other lure shoppers with attractive deals as long as they purchase additional "add-ons" that eventually cost the shopper more than he/she would ever want to spend on a laptop. On this page, I have made a compilation of reputable retailers where you are guaranteed to find discount laptop computers at any given time. Spend some time evaluating them and soon enough, you will find an attractive notebook deal that you will want to jump on before anyone else does. Happy shopping and good luck!


Reputable discount laptops retailers

Amazon.com: you'll find some amazing deals on discount laptops at one of earth's largest online store. You'll need to do some digging because the good deals are not always obvious. One tip is to sort the results by price to access them right away.
Dell.com: in my humble opinion, this is the best laptop e-commerce site on the whole world wide web. This website contains more discount laptop computers offers than you'll be able to handle. Check out the outlet section but also consider configuring a brand new laptop with the absolute necessary features and you'll see how low the final purchasing price can be.
Ecost.com!: This is an interesting online store featuring an interesting concept called "bargain countdown" which incites you to purchase a good laptop deal as soon as you come across one. I visit this website almost every day and I always see a number of discount notebook deals that come and go at lightning speed meaning that keen shoppers don't waste any time and take full advantage of the great offers.
Overstock.com: many readers have thanked me for providing them with the link to this dealer. This website has the best discount laptops deals. As a matter of fact, it's part of their business model. If you are a student or are on a really tight budget, I would strongly advise you to check this place first.
TechDepot.com: they're big so they can afford to sell their best laptops at decent prices. The kicker is when they decide to discount them even further. This is one place for really good deals so please make it a point to check it out.
TigerDirect.com: This site rocks too! And now, they have a store dedicated to Canada-based computer shoppers (they're based both in the USA and Canada). These guys provide a good service and their discount laptop inventory will not disappoint you. I bet that you'll find so many good prices on other electronics products that you will get sidetracked (I always do!).

An HP Pavilion and Omnibook laptop computers review & online stores directory

are available in all shapes to suit any kind of mobile computer user. This means that whatever you're trying to achieve there's a Hewlett Packard notebook that will meet your needs. Below, here's a summarized HP laptop comparison.

HP Pavilion laptop computers:These mobile systems are mainly for home use. But these ideal desktop replacements are also popular with students.There are 3 series of HP Pavilions laptops:Since last year when I first wrote this article, there have been more HP Pavilion Laptops models for consumers. Click on the link to read all about them

• HP Pavilion ze4000 series which by default feature mobile AMD Athlon processors but can be customized with mobile Pentium 4 and Celeron processors depending on how much performance you need.• The ze5000 series have an all-in-one design and are equipped with Intel Pentium 4 processors which makes them very powerful. They're pretty heavy too at around 7.5 lbs but they're true desktop replacements and not really meant for travel purposes.

• The ze1200 series are medium priced and come with AMD Athlon and Duron Processors. These HP laptops will be the perfect choice if you have moderate computing needs. HP Omnibook laptop computers:These are the true gems in the HP laptops stable due to the fact that they're superslim, light (3.65 pounds (1.7kg)) and packed with all the necessary features needed by business people, especially those who move a lot, such as long lasting batteries, swapable bays, fast processors and much more!There are various kinds of HP laptops:

• HP Omnibook vt6200 series featuring: Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor-M at 1.8, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5 or 1.4 GHz; batteries that last up to four hours thanks to the high-capacity 8-cell Lithium-Ion and a strong magnesium made case. These are truly powerful HP laptops.

• HP Omnibook 6100 series only differences with the 6200 is that they're equipped with Mobile Intel® Pentium® III Processor-M which makes them slower but nevertheless, this should be more than enough for the average business person unless you're into heavy multi-media for example.

• HP Omnibook 510: I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know much about these HP laptops but am currently hunting one down for a proper review. Stay tuned!

• The HP Omnibook xe4100 series (and the rest of the xe series) are described as all-in-one laptop computers due the fact that everything is built-in. They're the true desktop replacements in the business environment. The xe4100 feature Intel® Mobile Celeron® processors whereas the HP Omnibook xe4400 and xe4500 series feature Intel® Pentium® 4 Processors.

• HP Omnibook xt6200 series: very slim and light but very powerful too featuring Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor-M at 1.8, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5 or 1.4 GHz.Needless to say that all HP laptops come with a very good warranty and technical phone support. But as we all know, different users have had different experiences (good or bad) through all the stories I have heard personally or read all over forums. But don't let this scare you though... my mother has had her Omnibook for 3 years and she's never had a need to exchange any part or need any support. I guess that says a lot about the quality of HP laptop computers don't you think?


HP Laptops Online Stores
Amazon.com - HP Laptops:Earth's biggest laptops selection (TM) including HP laptops. Amazon.com is truly the place to find and discover anything you want to buy online. Recommended for first time Internet shoppers.
BestBuy.com - HP Laptops (browse until you find the specific category):Order any of many HP laptops at great prices today and get a $100 Best Buy mail-in rebate as well as FREE shipping!
Circuit City - HP Laptops:The Circuit City difference: no-hassle returns; order online & pick up right away; price match plus guarantee: find a lower price, get 110% of the difference and read reviews from HP latops customers like you.
PCMall.com:PC Mall has the largest selection of CPU's, hardware, software and consumer electronics. Highly recommended for HP laptops purchases.